Airport mask sales take off

Sales of surgical masks at Sydney Airport Pharmacy have taken off - but travellers said today they were not overly concerned about the SARS threat.

"We have sold over 1500 masks in the last two weeks," said Michelle Cuciti, manager of the Airport Pharmacy, adding that normally they sold "next to none".

Neither of the two types of mask they have in stock is recommended by doctors, but that is because the preferred N95 masks - which are also used to protect against TB - are now difficult to acquire.

She said sales of buying antiseptic wipes, gels and sprays have also soared.

But Alan Harding, a Sydney textile importer travelling to Qing Dao in northern China, said he was not worried about the SARS threat.

"I am an experienced traveller. I'll take the precautions," he said, adding that he intended to stay in his hotel as much as possible and avoid crowded places.

"I will also try to refrain from eating Chinese food Chinese style," he said, where everyone plunges their chopsticks into communal bowls.

"It's a concern but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I have to run my business."

Zoe Tond, a Chinese woman returning home to Harbin, a city of about three million people north of Beijing, after a two month holiday visiting relatives in Australia, said she was not at all concerned about catching the bug.

"It's a very small percentage," she said. "Accidents kill more people."

Andrew Willis, a Sydney scientist, flew to Singapore this morning where he will stop over one night on the way to Europe, said: "I'm more worried about the flight going out from Singapore than staying there.

"If they supply masks I will wear one on the plane," he said. "I think the risk is reasonable but it is not particularly high. It's been blown out of proportion by the media."

Environmental and occupational health and safety lecturer Ross Coulton of Newcastle University said he was not worried about travelling to Singapore today but he would not go to Hong Kong.

"The Singapore authorities have got control over it," he said. His colleagues in Singapore have reported SARS "has really cut a knife through all of their activities" with only sparse numbers appearing in public places. However, his students are still turning up to class.

Qantas staff refused to comment this morning saying they had been instructed not to speak to the media.